Demand for real estate loans has dipped in recent months, according to the Federal Reserve’s survey of lenders. And some banks continued to tighten loan standards on property lending, while banks are mostly done turning the screws on other types … Read More

I missed this yesterday from Bank of America: Bank of America announced that it is the first mortgage servicer to sign an agreement formally committing to participation in the pending second-lien component of the federal government’s Home Affordable Modification Program … Read More

Anthony Hsieh, who previously founded and sold LoansDirect.com to E*Trade and HomeLoanCenter.com to LendingTree, is at it again, National Mortgage News reported recently. His latest venture is LoanDepot.com in Irvine, naturally. NMN reports: The backers for loanDepot include San Francisco-based … Read More

Randy Johnson, president of Independence Mortgage Co. in Newport Beach, author of “How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Your Home Mortgage” and a mortgage broker since 1983, answers questions… Tony in Mesa AZ asks: Q. I currently have a … Read More

Reverse mortgages may become the next consumer credit fiasco, with strong similarities to the subprime mess, warns the National Consumer Law Center. Bloomberg has more: Some of the same U.S. lenders that helped drive the real estate boom with loans … Read More

Randy Johnson, president of Independence Mortgage Co. in Newport Beach, author of “How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Your Home Mortgage” and a mortgage broker since 1983, answers questions… Mitch in Dallas, TX asks: Q. I purchased a home … Read More

Randy Johnson, president of Independence Mortgage Co. in Newport Beach, author of “How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Your Home Mortgage” and a mortgage broker since 1983, answers questions… John in Long Beach writes: Q. I’m recently retired and … Read More

A couple of data points suggest Orange County residents are behaving more responsibly with their credit cards. The ratio of credit-card bills three or more payments behind dropped to 1.3% in June, from 1.4% in March, though it was up … Read More

This is an interesting story from Bloomberg: The rally among home-loan bonds without government backing is being fueled by errors made by “most market participants” in translating current prices to potential returns, Amherst Securities Group LP analysts said. Investors are … Read More

The Federal Reserve is considering a restriction on how mortgage brokers are paid, National Mortgage News reported yesterday. The rule would not allow banks to pay brokers differently based upon the rate or term of a loan — pay would … Read More